The challenge: Long waitlists for high-demand courses were hindering enrollment growth
As a public research university serving a diverse student body in a growing urban region, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) mission was clear: provide high-quality education and support student success through access and affordability
Dr. Wendi Clouse, Chief Strategist for Enrollment and Operations, saw clear signs that these goals were at risk. She noticed troubling trends that had been growing for years:
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- Declining enrollment for five consecutive years
- Persistent waitlists for high-demand courses
- Lost credit hours — and lost tuition revenue — as students couldn’t get the classes they needed
Many faculty and leaders misunderstood the waitlist issue, assuming students weren’t serious about enrolling. But an analysis revealed the truth: many students, especially first-gen and Pell-eligible students, were forced into part-time loads simply because they couldn’t access required courses — threatening their financial aid and delaying graduation.
Products in Use
Student Demand Forecasting
Registration Monitoring
